New York state Senator Greg Ball has been working his tail off in the last year getting legislation passed to protect animals. In June, the Senate approved a bill to create an animal abuser registry, and now it has been made a law that abusers will be required to pay for the care of their victims.
Bill S2665B has been finalized by receiving Governor Andrew Cuomo’s stamp of approval, an action deemed necessary due to the overwhelming reports of animal abuse.
“It seems as though weekly we are disturbed by even more heinous accounts of animal cruelty. These reports are heartbreaking and underline the exact need for this new law. This law will now enable courts to hold hearings to compensate impounding organizations for their services, which will in turn help continue to provide care to abused animals,” said Senator Ball. “I would like to thank my colleagues in the Senate and Assembly for supporting this important piece of legislation to hold those that abuse animals accountable. Along with child predators, animal abusers are some of the lowest forms of human life. I would like to thank Governor Cuomo for signing this bill into law today. Let us remember that those who commit crimes against animals often expand their carnage to their neighbors and the larger community.”
Law enforcement officers typically seize animals in cruelty cases. Housing, food and medical care must be provided at the taxpayers’ expense. First, these abusers mistreat animals, then then get away with letting everyone else foot the bill for their care? Not anymore!
“These people have abused these animals and that is horrible in and of itself. They should be punished to the greatest extent of the law because of what they have done. In addition, they need to be financially responsible and must shoulder the burden monetarily to provide the resources that will allow these poor animals to be nursed back to health,” said Assemblywoman Amy Paulin.
“All too often those housing seized animals are punished for taking in animals involved in cases of animal cruelty. This new law will allow these organizations, that are often overcrowded and underfunded, to recoup a reasonable cost for the care of these animals. I would like to thank Senator Greg Ball for spearheading this legislation along with a host of other laws that ultimately aid in the prevention of animal cruelty,” said Chief Ken Ross of the Putnam County SPCA Humane Law Enforcement Department.
“Several long-standing deficiencies in our state’s law have unfairly burdened animal shelters who provide an invaluable service caring for victims of animal abuse,” said Bill Ketzer, Senior Legislative Director for the ASPCA’s Northeast region. “This legislation will provide stronger support for shelters in need to continue providing emergency care to animals while the corresponding criminal cases develop. The ASPCA thanks Senator Ball for his work on this bill, and we applaud Governor Cuomo for signing this important measure into law.”
Thank you to all of the men and women who work so tirelessly to seek justice and protection for those who cannot speak for themselves.
The New York State Assembly failed to pass the legislation for the animal abuser registry. But the new session begins in January. Sign this petition, and let them know you want to see this made a law!
To contact Governor Cuomo to tell him you’d like him to sign the puppy mill bill into law, please click here. If you’d like to sign the petitions asking him to do the same, please click here and here.
